DeLand, FL - A man, believed to be homeless, was arrested after police say he shot a disabled Deltona man multiple times who had previously tried to help him "get back on his feet."
Police say that on July 31, 24-year-old Gerald Caesar Jr. shot 44-year-old Daniel Garcia Agosto after carjacking him at the KFC located at 1206 S. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand. Agosto had planned to meet Caesar at the KFC that morning. Caesar approached the front passenger-side door of the maroon 2009 F-150 truck that Agosto was driving and had borrowed from a friend. According to police reports, Caesar entered the truck with a pistol in his hand, and when asked "what was going on," Caesar told Agosto he was being robbed.
Caesar held the pistol by his lap but kept it pointed at Agosto. He told Agosto to drive and gave directions where to go. The two ended up in a secluded area. According to the police reports, Caesar never asked for anything from Agosto before Caesar exited the truck, which led Agosto to believe that Caesar's intention was to kill him, not rob him. Agosto was then shot multiple times through the closed door of the truck.
Agosto immediately drove to Florida Hospital DeLand at 701 W. Plymouth Ave. He showed up in the hospital's parking lot at about 11:40 AM that morning with four gunshot wounds, including on his chest and left shoulder. Hospital staff recommended that he be airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. Agosto was released from Halifax Health later that same day.
Through investigations, police discovered that Agosto was borrowing the truck to meet customers to earn extra money by working on four wheelers and jet skis. Agosto also told detectives that he had let Caesar, who he said is homeless, stay with him at his residence to help the man get back on his feet.
Caesar was booked on Sunday and charged with one count of attempted murder, one count armed carjacking, and one count kidnapping.
Caesar had previously served a six-year prison sentence for armed burglary and was released in September of 2016.
For earlier reporting on this story, click here.
(Caesar's mugshot courtesy Volusia County jail)
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
